What if, instead of chasing perfection, we celebrated progress? What if the courage it takes to live with ADHD wasn’t just acknowledged but honored? This week on The ADHD Podcast, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright (Nikki and Pete) challenge us to pause, reflect, and rewrite the stories we tell ourselves. This isn’t about doing more or trying harder—it’s about recognizing the monumental effort ADHDers put into simply existing in a world that often misunderstands them.

Here’s the truth: ADHD is not a character flaw. It’s not your fault. It’s real, complex, and challenging. Yet, too often, those with ADHD dismiss their victories, minimize their strengths, and shoulder blame that isn’t theirs. Nikki and Pete remind us that this cycle of self-criticism—those loud should statements and limiting beliefs—isn’t helping.

Living with ADHD takes courage, adaptability, and resilience. But ADHDers rarely give themselves credit for what they do accomplish. This episode is a rallying cry to celebrate just that—everything you’ve already done, no matter how small it seems.

Because:

• Progress, not perfection, is what matters.
• Resting counts.
• Lowering expectations isn’t giving up—it’s being realistic and kind.
• Asking for help shows wisdom, not weakness.

And above all, ADHD is something you have, not who you are.

This isn’t about celebrating accomplishments. It’s about rejecting perfectionism, reframing expectations, and creating a mindset that allows you to thrive. ADHD doesn’t define you, but it does shape how you live—and that’s something to honor.

So pause. Recognize your efforts. Celebrate what you do. You’ve got this.

Links & Notes

• Support the Show on Patreon
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast
• (03:06) - Celebrating What We Do

In episode 3001, Nikki and Pete embark on a journey into the heart of the "try-hard trap." It's a familiar snare, isn't it? That relentless, gnawing feeling that we're not doing enough, that we should be doing more. That we're perpetually falling short of some invisible, yet omnipresent, standard.

Pete and Nikki explore the insidious ways in which societal pressures, internalized expectations, and the ever-present lure of FOMO (fear of missing out) conspire to keep us perpetually spinning on the hamster wheel of "trying harder." But what if, just what if, the key to unlocking our potential lies not in more effort, but in less? What if, as Pete suggests, true progress comes from letting go of the illusion of control, the unattainable ideal of perfection, and the corrosive power of self-criticism?

This isn't about surrendering to inertia, sinking into the couch, and embracing a life of indolence. Far from it. It's about recognizing the inherent limitations of our ADHD brains, and working with them, not against them. It's about embracing "good enough" as a legitimate, even laudable, achievement. It's about finding a sustainable pace, setting realistic expectations, and celebrating the small victories along the way.

Nikki offers practical strategies for navigating the try-hard trap. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, understanding our individual energy rhythms, and communicating our needs to others. It's about recognizing that disappointing people is sometimes necessary, even healthy. It's about prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, and recognizing that we are ultimately responsible for our own well-being.

Links & Notes

• Buy the Book! Unapologetically ADHD is Available Now
• Find us on Bluesky! @TakeControlADHD • @PeteWright • @NKinzer
• Support the Show on Patreon
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast
• (05:23) - The ADHD Try-Hard Trap
• (14:20) - What We Mean by Letting Go

Clutter. It's the silent scream of the modern age. A creeping accumulation of stuff that somehow, insidiously, steals not just our physical space, but our mental bandwidth, too. We’re drowning in it, folks. Drowning in a sea of forgotten birthday presents, impulse buys gathering dust, and that project – that project – we swore we’d finish… someday. Sound familiar? It should. Because this isn’t just about messy desks and overflowing closets. This is about cognitive overload, the subtle but persistent drain on our executive functions that leaves us feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and perpetually behind.

On this episode of Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast, Nikki and Pete dive headfirst into decluttering, exploring the peculiar relationship between our stuff and our sanity. They unpack the surprising statistics – the sheer volume of possessions we rarely use, the days of our lives lost searching for misplaced keys – and dissect the emotional baggage that comes with letting go. It’s a struggle many of us know all too well: the guilt, the shame, the nagging feeling that we should be more organized.

Think of this episode as a cognitive cleanse, a much-needed decluttering of your mental attic. It's a conversation that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of their possessions, the insidious creep of clutter, and the liberating potential of a clean slate. Join Nikki and Pete as they navigate the messy, often emotional, but ultimately rewarding journey of taking control of your space, your time, and your mind.

When you’re ready, join us for the 2025 Declutter Challenge!

Links & Notes

• Support the Show on Patreon
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast
• (02:21) - Discord! Patreon! More ADHD Fun!
• (03:41) - It's Decluttering Season!